STM Article Repository

The recent outburst of flames at Petrol Filling Stations (PFS) in Ghana especially 3rd June, 2015 catastrophic explosion at GOIL filling station around Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra in which the Ghana National Fire Service confirmed the loss of about 160 human lives with about 1000 affected, has raised a lot of concerns among all stakeholders about the prevailing safety management practices at the PFS in Ghana. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the prevailing safety management practices at the PFS in Agona Nkwanta, Sekondi – Takoradi and Inchaban in the Western Region of Ghana. A mixed methodological approach including structured and face-face interviews, observations, surveys and the use of GPS were employed in the study. A one-way ANOVA analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) for: Adequate provision of personal protective equipments F(2, 77) = 14.9, p < 0.05; Adequate safety training F(2, 77) = 13.1, p < 0.05; Enforcement of safety policies F(2, 77) = 23.2, p < 0.05; Adequate safety communication F(2, 77) = 9.9, p < 0.05; and Adequate Safety facilities F(2, 77) = 15.4, p < 0.05. The Multinational OMC with mean scores of (M = 5.97, SD = 1.75), (M = 6.14, SD = 1.69), (M = 4.28, SD = 1.26), (M = 5.11, SD = 1.37) and (M = 6.94, SD = 1.413) for provision of PPE, safety training, enforcement of safety policies, safety communication and adequate safety facilities respectively, outperformed the State Owned and Individual Private Owned OMCs. Though safety management was considered important among the OMCs especially the Multinational OMC, yet safety policy enforcement was weakest.